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The TRX Workout for Your Back, Arms, and Abs (VIDEO)

Have you seen those funny looking straps hanging from the ceiling of your gym and wondered what they’re for? Are they some type of harness? Are you supposed to swing from them? Or maybe you know they’re meant for exercise but you’ve been too intimidated to step up and try them out?

Now, you can stop passing up this equipment and start to reap all the rewards of the TRX. Sharita Jennings, trainer and GetFitLikeThat.com creator has put together a complete upper body workout that you can do with the TRX bands. They are nothing to be afraid of, especially because you can adjust every move to suit your fitness or strength level.

Want to take it easy? Just stand upright (or pretty close to upright). Want to push your limits? Lean away from the TRX to create more resistance with the same piece of equipment. That’s really all it takes.

In this video, Sharita demonstrates some of the classic TRX moves that you can try without any supervision or instructional manuals. Try each move for 30 seconds each, then repeat for 3 rounds. If you want more of a challenge, step it up to 1 minute per exercise.

Here’s what you’ll be doing:

Chest Fly: Stand facing the TRX band, holding one handle in each hand. Lean away from the TRK keeping arms straight out in front of you. Pull yourself toward the band while keeping arms straight and making a ‘Y’ shape overhead. Keep the band taught throughout the move. You should feel this in your chest mostly and a bit in your core.

Bicep Curl: Face the TRX band with arms extended straight out and elbows lifted to shoulder height. Curl your hands in toward your shoulders without letting your elbows fall below shoulder height. To increase the resistance, lean back further from the TRX.

Tricep Extensions: Turn away from the TRX holding a handle in each hand, with elbows up by your ears. Bend elbows back until hands are touching your back. Then push hands straight up, flexing your triceps to straighten your arms.

Push Ups: Face the TRX and get into push up position, except with hands in the TRX handles. Since the TRX is not stable, the push-ups will be much more challenging than when done on the floor. You can raise the handles higher to make this easier if needed.

Single Arm Row: Grab one handle or hold both handles in one hand. Reach other hand behind you to touch the floor. Then pull yourself back up using the hand holding the TRX. You should feel this in your back mostly. (repeat on opposite arm)

Have you tried the TRX yet? What are some of your favorite TRX moves?

Sharita Jennings is a fitness and travel enthusiast and creator of Get Fit Like That, LLC. She is a health policy attorney and ACE certified group fitness instructor and fitness nutrition specialist. She provides online fitness plans and leads group fitness classes in Washington DC. Check out her fitness tips and workouts at GetFitLikeThat.com.